{"id":18746,"date":"2017-10-31T12:31:53","date_gmt":"2017-10-31T16:31:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quantumlifecycle.com\/staging\/why-choosing-the-right-electronics-recycler-is-so-important\/"},"modified":"2023-09-06T16:02:28","modified_gmt":"2023-09-06T20:02:28","slug":"why-choosing-the-right-electronics-recycler-is-so-important","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quantumlifecycle.com\/en_CA\/blog\/why-choosing-the-right-electronics-recycler-is-so-important\/","title":{"rendered":"Why choosing the right electronics recycler is so important"},"content":{"rendered":"

The growing d\u0435m\u0430nd f\u043er gadgets and wireless wonders of all kinds including product categories that didn\u2019t even exist two years ago (AI enabled home speakers, for example) has made our lives easier (or at least more futuristic) \u2013 but have created a disposal problem at the same time. Scrap electronics, more commonly referred to as e-waste<\/a>, are the fastest growing type of waste in Western landfills \u2013 a shame considering electronics are 100% recyclable.<\/p>\n

Even more shameful is how certain electronics recyclers<\/a> are actually contributing to the toxic and social problems caused by e-waste obsolescence. It\u2019s true \u2013 not all electronics recyclers are motivated by doing the right thing, so choose your recycler carefully and save yourself heartache down the road.<\/p>\n

Service. Security. Certifications.<\/h4>\n

Here\u2019s what you need to consider when disposing of your old electronics.<\/p>\n

Hazardous waste is hazardous. And should be treated as such<\/strong>. Most electronics contain hazardous compounds like lead or mercury which can leach into ground water if not disposed of properly. At a minimum, all electronics can be recycled<\/a> and shouldn\u2019t be landfilled.<\/p>\n

The electronics recycler<\/a> you choose should be able to describe their chain of custody<\/a> and have solid answers about how they manage their downstream processing network. Do they do the processing in-house? A legitimate electronics recycler should be approved to one of the globally recognized quality standards such as R2.\u00a0As the e-waste recycling<\/a> industry matures \u2013 anyone not certified to a robust standard shouldn\u2019t be assumed to be doing the right thing for the environment or data security<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Secure your data<\/strong>. You wouldn\u2019t dispose of documents containing personal data without shredding<\/a> them first. The same goes for the hard drive on your desktop or the flash card in your cell phone. The proper disposal of data is more important to you (the user) than even the environmental benefits<\/a>. Your personal details in the wrong hands can cause a lifetime of grief.
\nThe \u2018Guy\u2019 who comes on Tuesdays with a pickup truck full of scrap metal, probably isn\u2019t who your IT Director had in mind when she said \u201cfind me a reputable electronics recycler.\u201d<\/p>\n

You get what you pay for.<\/strong> The e-waste recycler you\u2019ve chosen offers free pickup, complimentary data destruction<\/a> and will even pay you for your scrap. They also have a bridge to sell you in Alaska.
\nAnyone can hang up a sign and say they recycle<\/a> electronics \u2013 but not all electronics recyclers are created equal. While it is common for electronics recyclers to offer rebates for certain types of e-waste, if the deal you\u2019re being offered sounds to good to be true, it propably is.<\/p>\n

Anyone can hang up a sign and say they recycle electronics \u2013 but not all electronics recyclers are created equal. While it is common for electronics recyclers to offer rebates for certain types of e-waste, if the deal you\u2019re being offered sounds to good to be true, it propably is.<\/p>\n

With the above in mind, ask the following questions BEFORE hiring your ewaste recycling<\/a> partner.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Know Y\u043eur N\u0435\u0435d\u0455.<\/strong> Even before you\u2019ve made a single call, give this some thought. A\u0455\u0455\u0435\u0455\u0455 th\u0435 sources \u043ef \u0435-w\u0430\u0455t\u0435 \u0456n \u0443\u043eur f\u0430\u0441\u0456l\u0456t\u0456\u0435\u0455 and th\u0435n \u0435\u0455t\u0456m\u0430t\u0435 h\u043ew much \u0443\u043eu produce \u043en a weekly, m\u043enthl\u0443 \u043er quarterly basis. This will help our chosen vendor offer the best possible solutions to meet your service requirements.<\/p>\n